ELECTRICAL EARTH CONNECTION AND METHOD OF PRODUCING CONTACT AREAS FOR THE ELECTRICAL EARTH CONNECTION

• US 20100184312A1
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Bachmann, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

A holder for a controller housing of a central airbag unit is arranged on a central tunnel of the vehicle and fixed using fastening bolts by union nuts. A blank paint-free contact area is created around the fastening bolts by the union nuts being mounted on the fastening screws before a painting process. After a painting process, the union nuts are removed from the screws and the controller housing is mounted on the contact areas and secured by the union nuts.

Claims

1. An electrical earth connection for a controller housing of a central airbag unit of a motor vehicle, the controller housing disposed on a central tunnel of a frame structure by a holder, and the holder having fastening bolts which protrude upward, and the controller housing can be fastened to the fastening bolts by union nuts, the electrical earth connection comprising:

a first electrical earth connection being joint welds electrically connecting the holder to the central tunnel; and

a second electrical earth connection electrically connecting the controller housing of the airbag unit to the holder, said second electrical earth connection being defined by paint-free blank contact areas on the holder, said paint-free blank contact areas are disposed on the holder around a foot end of the fastening bolts as a support area for the controller housing.

2. The electrical earth connection according to claim 1, wherein the fastening bolts are composed of a steel material and are compressed at the foot end by the holder which is composed of an aluminum material, and a projecting threaded portion of the fastening bolts receives one of the union nuts.

3. The electrical earth connection according to claim 1, wherein:

the central tunnel is composed of an aluminum material; and

the holder is composed of an aluminum material and is connected to the central tunnel by said welds, and said welds are disposed on bent portions of the holder which are directed towards the central tunnel.

4. The electrical earth connection according to claim 1, wherein said paint-free blank contact areas defining the second electrical earth connection between the holder and the controller housing of the airbag unit each have an outer contour corresponding to an end-face outline contour of a union nut.

5. The electrical earth connection according to claim 1, wherein the electrical earth connection is established from the controller housing, via said contact areas on the holder, via said welds, via the central tunnel, to a vehicle body.

6. The electrical earth connection according to claim 3, wherein said weld is a metal inert gas weld.

7. A method for producing a contact area between a holder and a controller housing, which comprises the steps of:

screwing union nuts onto fastening bolts of the holder before a painting process such that covered paint-free contact areas are formed between the holder and a lower surface of the union nuts;

after the painting process, unscrewing the union nuts from the fastening bolts;

mounting the controller housing on the paint-free blank contact areas; and

fastening the controller housing to the holder by means of the union nuts.

8. An electrical earth connection configuration, comprising:

a central tunnel of a frame structure;

a holder having union nuts and fastening bolts which protrude upward;

a controller housing of a central airbag unit of a motor vehicle, said controller housing disposed on said central tunnel by said holder, and said controller housing being fastened to said fastening bolts by said union nuts;

a first electrical earth connection being joint welds electrically connecting said holder to said central tunnel; and

a second electrical earth connection electrically connecting said controller housing of the central airbag unit to said holder, said second electrical earth connection being defined by paint-free blank contact areas on said holder, said paint-free blank contact areas are disposed on said holder around a foot end of said fastening bolts as a support area for said controller housing.

9. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 8, wherein said fastening bolts are composed of a steel material and are compressed at said foot end by said holder which is composed of an aluminum material, and said fastening bolts having a projecting threaded portion for receiving said union nuts.

10. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 8, wherein:

said holder has bent portions and is composed of an aluminum material;

said central tunnel is composed of an aluminum material; and

said holder is connected to said central tunnel by said welds, said welds are disposed on said bent portions of said holder which are directed towards said central tunnel.

11. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 8, wherein said paint-free blank contact areas defining said second electrical earth connection between said holder and said controller housing of the airbag unit each have an outer contour corresponding to an end-face outline contour of said union nuts.

12. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 8, wherein an electrical earth connection is established from said controller housing, via said contact areas on said holder, via said welds, via said central tunnel, to a vehicle body.

13. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 10, wherein said weld is a metal inert gas weld.